Bridal gown bargains may not be a deal

Today’s brides are being bombarded with offers to save money on the purchase of their wedding gowns.

Options available to brides needing gowns range from discount dealers to couture salons to the Internet. While most brides would like to save as much money as possible on their dress, it is very important that they weigh all of their options and make their purchase decisions after reviewing all of the facts.

“The sad thing,” says Gary Wright, chairman of the National Bridal Service (NBS), “is that when all things are considered, the bride rarely saves a dime and may end up spending more.”
What a bride may not realize is that her gown must be fitted, steamed and pressed before wearing. These tasks require expertise and should be done by a professional. A reputable bridal store usually does not charge extra for pressing, provides fitting and alteration services for less than independent seamstresses, and provides a high level of personal attention to the selection and fitting process.

With so many options for purchasing a gown — discount dealers, telemarketing services, bridal warehouses, department stores — a bride is likely to become overwhelmed.
To make the process of finding the perfect wedding gown easier, NBS offers the following advice to brides confronted with bargain offers.

Brides should beware of anyone who:
• requires full payment prior to ordering the dress. If the dealer goes out of business or if anything is wrong with the dress, it already has been paid in full. According to NBS, brides should not pay more than a 50 percent deposit on a gown.

•wants to ship the gown directly to the bride. She then will have to find and pay someone to fit, alter, steam and press the dress. With these additional charges, the bride may end up paying more money than if she had purchased the dress from the first bridal store she visited.

• wants to sell the bride a gown, but not steam and press it.

• does not offer or coordinate alteration services.

• does not have a legitimate store.

• wants the bride to select the gown elsewhere, but order from them.

History has proven that people usually get what they pay for, and taking a chance on a gown to save a few dollars is not worth the risk of being disappointed on the wedding day.

Veil styles that will
complement every gown
You may ponder over reception meal choices or honeymoon destinations, but perhaps the wedding gown is perhaps one of the most important purchases a bride will have to make. The most often asked question concerning a wedding is: “What type of dress did the bride wear?” From princess cuts to ballroom skirts there are many styles that are available. However, the bridal ensemble doesn’t end there. The item that truly sets the bride apart from everyone else in the wedding party is the bridal veil.

A traditional symbol of purity, the veil can embellish a plain dress or add a definitive spark of style. It is important to choose a veil that complements your gown and the theme of your wedding. The following eight basic veil styles are ones to consider.

1. Birdcage or Madonna: This veil falls just below the chin and is worn at informal weddings.

2. Flyaway: This veil has multiple layers that just touch the shoulder and are the perfect addition to informal ankle-length gowns.

3. Elbow-length: This veil gives a delicate look for informal and semiformal weddings. It is a particularly flattering length for petite brides.

4. Fingertip-length: This is one of the most popular styles of veil. It works well with many styles of dresses and flatters all heights.

5. Chapel-length: This veil is seven feet long and works with a dress that is floor-length or with a sweep train.

6. Cathedral: A ten-foot-long veil which is worn with cathedral length gowns. It is reserved for ultra-formal wedding ceremonies.

7. Blusher: Worn in conjunction with other veils, it shades the face as the bride walks down the aisle.

8. Mantilla: A large, Spanish-inspired circular veil made of lace or lace-trimmed tulle.